(CENTRALIA, WA) -- Centralia College and the Center for
Excellence for Clean Energy, a Centralia College partnership, received
word Monday they have been awarded a federal grant for nearly 10-million
dollars. According to the college, the project, called Washington
Integrated Sector Employment or WISE, is a statewide initiative that
will reach nearly 2,000 adults including veterans. WISE brings together
the clean energy, construction, and advanced manufacturing sectors to
help prepare participants for employment in entry level,
pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship occupations. It will address the
needs of unemployed, or under-employed dislocated workers, using
innovative and sophisticated strategies.

POULSBO —
Dave Siburg, general manager of Kitsap Public Utility District for the past 27
years, will leave his post at the end of the year, according to PUD
Commissioner Jim Civilla.

Civilla
said the elected board did not ask Siburg to leave, but it agreed to his plan
for a smooth transition. Siburg is completing work on a doctoral degree to take
his career in a new direction, Civilla said, adding that the board wishes to
thank him for his many years of service.

Siburg
issued a written statement: "I have had a great 27 years with Kitsap PUD,
helping it to grow and develop ... In an effort to make the transition as
smooth as possible, the board has graciously allowed me to begin using my leave
and to concentrate on my external sector engagements outside of the date-to-day
operations of the PUD during this time.

"It's
been an honor to serve the board for 27 years and a pleasure to work with all
my gifted colleagues and friends at the PUD," he said.

Bob Hunter,
the PUD's assistant manager, was placed in charge of PUD staff through the end
of the year.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Historic fish returns predicated
on a combination of work to improve fish conditions at all life stages in the
Columbia River Basin and favorable ocean conditions

(PORTLAND, OR) -- Since Sunday, more than 180,354 adult fall
chinook have climbed the fish ladders at Bonneville Lock and Dam on their
annual migration into the Columbia River Basin.

Sunday’s count of 67,024 chinook was soon surpassed by Monday’s return of
67,521 – marking the largest, single-day return since counting began with the
construction of the dam in 1938. The previous record of 63,870 had been set
less than a year ago on Sept. 9, 2013. On Tuesday, the numbers held strong with
45,809 chinook swimming past the fish counting windows at the dam.

The fish are among the 359,258 fall chinook seen thus far at Bonneville Dam.
These numbers are only a fraction of the predicted 1.5 million adult fall
chinook returning by the end of 2014. These returns are the result of a host of
federal, tribal, state and non-profit organizations in the region working
together over the past decade to improve conditions in the tributaries and main
stem river using an “all H” approach – harvest, habitat, hydro and hatcheries –
as well as favorable ocean conditions.

“With our many partners, we work to balance the needs and interests of the
region with large-scale improvements for fish,” said David Ponganis,
Northwestern Division Programs Director for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“These record-breaking numbers show that the structural and operational
improvements made at the dams have resulted in safer passage conditions for
juvenile and adult fish.”

These efforts represent one of the largest fish and wildlife programs in the
nation, largely paid for by the region’s electric ratepayers along with funding
from federal taxpayers.

“The results we are seeing reflect a tremendous collaborative effort within
the Columbia River Basin,” said BPA Administrator Elliot Mainzer. “We look
forward to working with our existing and future partners towards a common
vision of continuing to bring back more fish to the rivers.”

(CENTRALIA, WA) -- The
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of a large
amount of copper wire from street lights along Rush Road. Stacy Brown
with the Sheriff’s Office says on Wednesday
deputies contacted the Lewis County Public Works Department in regards
to the theft that happened in the 1600 block of Rush Road sometime
between August 22 and August 25. According to Brown, county officials
say up to a mile of insulated and non-insulated copper wire was taken.
At this time there is no dollar estimate of the loss. The investigation
is ongoing.

About Me

Joel Myer works at an electrical utility in Washington State.
Prior to his current employment, he worked for nine years at the City of Shelton as Special Projects Coordinator.
In 1992, Joel served a three-month term as an appointed Mason County Commissioner. As far as it is known, he still holds the record for the shortest term for a county commissioner in Washington State.
From 1991 through 1992 Joel worked with Washington State University Cooperative Extension, where he conducted an extensive study of the special forest products industry and its economic value to the Pacific Northwest.
From 1980 to 1991 he was News Director at KMAS Radio in Shelton.
Joel is a 1991 graduate of the Evergreen State College, where his focus of study was economics.
Joel Myer is one of the 2018 award winners, Foundation for Water & Energy Education Haiku Contest.
He has been teaching himself to play the ukulele (with limited success) since 2003.